Note to Self: Be Grateful for What You Have
Sometimes I think we don’t give our small children nearly enough credit. They are precious. Amazing. Infinitely powerful.
It’s easy, I guess, to forget about that with the chaotic hassles of a typical day. We spend so much time battling meltdowns, assigning time outs…yelling. And yet as frustrating as all of that seems, we often forget how privileged we are to be dealing with it.
Privileged??? This is the part where you start thinking I’m nuts, right? Earlier today, I would have probably agreed- especially at the park, where I lost my patience when my two year old son had a tantrum. But then, earlier today, I had never heard of a little girl named Layla Grace.
Tonight, while catching up on Twitter, I was drawn to her page and my perspective instantly changed. Layla Grace is a beautiful, strong and powerful two year old girl who suffers from Stage 4 Neuroblastoma, a relentless cancer that has spread throughout her tiny body and is in her bone marrow. She is currently resting at home, living out what her doctors think may be the last two weeks of her short and influential life. She’s asleep most of the time, in the constant care of her ever-faithful parents who hold vigil beside her.
The optimism, faith and gratefulness her parents express on their heartbreaking blog is astounding. They provide regular updates from her bedside, thanking friends and followers, and post tweets on Twitter announcing her daily accomplishments, such as staying awake for 10 minutes or being able to keep ice chips down…or wanting to be held…
Perspective, defined.
How blessed and fortunate I am to have been so oblivious, so obsessed with all the trivial things that can dominate the life of a two year old’s mom. May Layla Grace spend these last days in peace, surrounded by love and comfort. May God bless her and her devoted family, who so faithfully prayed for her life. They asked for a miracle and it seems they will be denied, like so many other families faced with the loss of a precious child.
But another kind of miracle is emerging- the miracle of Layla Grace’s legacy and how she is touching thousands of other lives with her story. Awareness for Neuroblastoma has been raised, research donations are being made, people are coming out of the woodwork to support and fight her worthy cause. And moms like me are more aware of how very lucky we are to be dealing with all those tantrums. Very, very lucky.
Thoughts and prayers to Layla Grace and family.
Sara
Posted by: Sara Hodge on: 2010-03-06 Permanent Link: Note to Self: Be Grateful for What You Have
